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RATIONALE: - Relapsed or refractory Neuroblastoma (NBL) carries a very poor prognosis and children with relapsed NBL have an overall 3 year survival rate of < 10%. Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant from a different donor (allogeneic), is a form of adoptive cellular therapy , such that infused donor cells find host tumors as foreign and fight them. After transplant, the donor immune cells (i.e. T cells, NK cells) mediate Graft versus Tumor (GVT) effect and may stop tumor from recurring. Also,reduced intensity transplants lead to minimal toxicity and less risk of mortality in heavily pre-treated NBL patients.

PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving a reduced intensity(using Fludarabine, Busulfan and antithymocyte globulin)preparative regimen followed by donor stem cell transplant works in treating young patients with high-risk neuroblastoma that has relapsed or not responded to treatment.

To determine the feasibility of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation after a reduced-intensity conditioning regimen comprising fludarabine phosphate, busulfan, and anti-thymocyte globulin, in terms of donor engraftment, transplant-related mortality, and development of acute and chronic graft-vs-host disease, in pediatric patients with high-risk relapsed or refractory neuroblastoma.

Secondary

To elucidate the role of natural killer (NK) cells as effectors of graft-vs-tumor effect in these patients.

To evaluate the role of killer immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) mismatches in the donor-recipient pairs on the outcomes of these patients.

To determine the incidence of progression-free survival at 1 year post-transplantation in these patients.

OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study.

Reduced-intensity conditioning regimen: Patients receive fludarabine phosphate IV over 1 hour on days -10 to -6, busulfan IV over 2 hours once on day -10 (test dose) and then every 6 hours on days -5 and -4, and anti-thymocyte globulin IV over 6-8 hours on days -3 to -1 and on day 2.

Graft-vs-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis: Patients receive cyclosporine or tacrolimus IV or orally beginning on day -2 and continuing until day 60 or day 100, followed by a taper until day 100 or day 180 in the absence of GVHD. Patients also receive mycophenolate mofetil IV or orally on days 1-30, followed by a taper until day 60 in the absence of GVHD.

Feasibility as measured by the incidence of donor engraftment, transplant-related mortality, and grade III-IV acute graft-vs-host disease (GVHD) at day 100 and the incidence of extensive chronic GVHD within the first year post-transplantation [ Time Frame: 100 days post-HSCT ]

The safety and feasibility of reduced intensity allogeneic HSCT will be established in this population by monitoring the incidence of adverse events- 100 day mortality,incidence of severe acute GVHD and non-engraftment of donor cells.

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Ages Eligible for Study:

1 Year to 18 Years (Child, Adult)

Sexes Eligible for Study:

All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Diagnosis of high-risk neuroblastoma, meeting one of the following criteria:

Refractory disease, defined as no response, mixed response, or progressive disease after completion of induction therapy administered according to clinical trials COG-A3973 or COG-ANBL0532 (or other similar high-intensity induction regimen)